Report: California’s cost for state workers’ pay to increase $500 million next year

In a far-ranging assessment of how much California pays its help, a nonpartisan report on Tuesday said the state government will spend a half-billion dollars more on employee compensation next year, but most workers’ take-home wages will continue to lag behind inflation.

he Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has posted an adjustment to the inpatient hospital section of the official medical fee schedule (OMFS) to conform to changes in the Medicare payment system DRG relative weights, as required by Labor Code section 5307.1. The effective date of the changes is March 15, 2014.

Employers interact with employee disability through a number of laws. Until now, there has been little attention focused on how to coordinate statutory compliance to achieve better overall results. Workers compensation, in particular, has operated with little or no coordination with other laws.

Michael Weinper: The Goldilocks Syndrome: How Much PT is Just Right for an Injured Worker?

If Goldilocks were to go in search of the “just right” fit for managing a workers’ compensation claim, one of the first options she would try on for size would be physical therapy. With most injuries involving musculoskeletal problems, and back pain being one of the most common claims, PT is often used as part of the care plan for recovery.

Today’s post comes from guest author Brody Ockander, from Rehm, Bennett & Moore. We routinely advise our clients to be aware of the possible discovery of Facebook and other social media sites. First step – check your privacy settings. If you do not control your privacy settings, your employer or the insurance carrier may easily access your posts. Also, do not post comments about your case, your employer, or your injury online.

New York City Council Expands Paid Sick Days to More Than 350,000 Workers

The New York City Council overwheelmingly voted to expand a law requiring employers to provide workers with paid sick days, giving more than 350,000 new workers the power to stay home when they are sick and not endanger themselves or customers who patronize the businesses they work for. The legislation, which passed on a 46–5 vote, is expected to be signed by new Mayor Bill de Blasio. Current law requires paid sick days to be offered to workers at businesses with 15 workers or more.

State officials are investigating an industrial accident at K2 Pure Solutions involving the release of a small amount of chlorine gas that sent a worker from another company to the hospital a few weeks ago. It’s the second time in three months there has been a release of chlorine gas at the site.

State workplace safety inspectors have opened an investigation into the death of a baggage worker at Los Angeles International Airport despite an initial report indicating he had a heart attack. Based on that report, Erika Monterroza, spokeswoman the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said an inspection was not initially planned into the death Friday of Cesar Valenzuela, 51.

The former owner of a Long Beach hospital, whom prosecutors allege paid bribes to state Sen. Ron Calderon, pleaded guilty Friday to charges connected to a massive workers’ compensation scheme that cheated taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Thoughts and impressions regarding the workers’ compensation industry throughout the United States including all state systems.

There’s good news coming out of the Drobot/Pacific Hospital/Calderon drama – the possibility that the doctors who were on the dole will also face prosecution. Michael D. Drobot’s plea agreement requires him to cooperate fully with federal, state and local prosecutors by testifying at trials and grand jury proceedings and providing documents, records and other evidence requested by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A man was taken to a hospital in serious-to-critical condition after he became unconscious while working on electrical cables underground at at a construction site this afternoon in the South Shore neighborhood.

South Carolinians allegedly exposed to asbestos say in court that they cannot collect worker’s compensation because of the Motley Rice law firm’s mishandling of their third-party claims. Odell Parker leads the county court class action on behalf of South Carolina residents who have suffered physical injuries as a result of exposure to materials containing asbestos during the course of their employment.